Collapsible core.



R. M. MER

COLLAPSIBLE APPLICATION FILED 1 .1916.

1,21 3,525. Patenteda Jan. 23, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

awoawlioz R. M. MERRIMAN.

GOLLAPSIBLE CORE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19, 1915.

1.,%118,5%, Patented Jan. 23, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

$144 toz EUNITED TATE PATENT @FFIQE ROBERT M. MERRIMAN, 0F AKRON, OHIO.

COLLAPSIBLE CORE.

Application filed July 19, 1916.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Ronunr M. MERRIMAN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Cores, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in collapsible cores for use in the manufacture of casings for pneumatic tires, the primary object of my invention being the provision of a core, the parts of which may be readily assembled when the core is being prepared for use and the sections or parts of which may be quickly and easily removed from each other and from the tire casing after the casing has been finished.

More specifically, my invention comprehends the construction of a core in the general form of an annulus and made of inner and outer annuli having interlocking engagement with each other and each in turn consisting of a number of interlocking sections, the sections being so arranged, when the core is assembled, that the joints between the sections of the outer annulus of the core are located intermediate the joints between the sections of the inner annulus of the core.

In this connection, a still further object of my invention is to so construct the sections of both annuli that the release of either one of two of the sections of the inner annulus will permit removal of all of the sections from the completed tire.

Another object which I have in view is the construction of a core in which each annulus is made up of four sections, two of the sections in efiect constituting locking sections for the annulus and in which the locking sections for the inner annulus are 'detachably secured to the locked sections of the outer annulus.

Another object which I have in view is the construction of the inner and outer annuli in such a manner that when the core is assembled, all sections of the annuli are held against independent lateral movement, as well as relative peripheral movement.

With these and other object in view, my invention will be more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and then specifically pointed out in the claims which are attached to and form a part of this application.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 23, 1211?.

Serial No. 110,103.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of an assembled core embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a radial section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the sections of the outer annulus; Fig. 4 is a similar view of one of the locking sections of the outer annulus; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the locking sections of the inner annulus; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of pne of the other sections of the inner annu- Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Broadly speaking, my core, which is indicated as a whole by the numeral 10, is in the form of an annulus having a radial cross sectional shape corresponding to the interior radial cross sectional shape of the type of tire to be manufactured upon it and having its inner peripheral face in the form of a cylindrical surface equal in width to the intended space between the inner edges of the bead portions of the tire to be constructed. This core is formed in two main portions or annuli, each of which consists of a plural.- ity of separable sections, preferably four to each portion. The outer portion or annulus includes a pair of duplicate sections 11 and a pair of duplicate sections 12 difl'er ing from the sections 11, while the inner annulus or portion consists of a pairof duplicate sections 13 and a second pair of duplicate sections 14 differing from the duplicate sections 13, the sections 13 corresponding to the sections 11 and the sections 14 to the sections 12. The outer peripheral faces of the inner sections 13 and 1 1 form, when the sections are assembled, a cylindrical surface, as also does the inner faces of the outer sections 11 and 12 when such sections are assembled. However, the outer faces of the inner sections 13 and 14: are formed with channels 15 having parallel side walls which are also parallel to the plane of the core as a whole, these channels being so formed that when the sections 13 and 14 are assembled a continuous peripheral channel extending throughout the entire circumference of the inner annulus is provided. In like manner, the inner faces of the sections 11 and 12 are provided medially of their width with square shouldered ribs 16 which, when the outer sections are assembled, form a continuous annular shoulder or rib and proportioned to seat in the channel 15. Because of this, it will be clear that when the core is assembled,'all of its sections are held against independent lateral movement.

Thev sections 11. are preferably duplicates of each other not only in shape but also in size, as are the sections 12. However, the sections 11 are of considerably greater length than the sections 12. In like manner, the sections 13 are preferably duplicates'of each other not only in'shape but also in size, as are the sections 14, the sections 13, however, being considerably greater in length than the sections 14.

The ends of the outer sections 12 are scarfed or cut in such a manner that the end faces converge outwardly toward each other, while the ends of the sections 11 are, of course, correspondingly scarfed or cut to diverge slightly outwardly. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 3, the end faces of the sections 11 are formed each with a radially extending groove or channel 17 the sides which are preferably substantially parallel and at right -angles to the base. The ends of the sections 12, as shown in Fig. 4, are formed with correspondingly extending shoulders or ribs 18 adapted to seat snugly within the channels when the parts are assembled. Obviously the ends of the sections 12 may be channeled and the ends of the sections 11 formed with ribs or shoulders if preferred. Furthermore, the ribs or shoulders 18 may be formed integrally with the sections 12 or as separate parts secured by bolts or other suitable fastening means Be cause of this, when the'sections 11 and 12 are assembled, it will be clear that if the sections 11 are held against movement away from each other, the sections 12 will also be held against movement away from each other, although free to move toward each other.

The ends of the inner sections 13 correspond to the ends of the outer sections 11 and are similarly formed, while the ends of the inner sections 14 correspond to the ends of the outer sections 12 and are similarly formed. As in the case of the outer sections, it will be clear that the inner sections 14, when the inner annulus is assembled, cannot move away from each other if the inner sections 13 are held against movement away from each other. Each of the inner sections is formed substantially centrally with a bore 19, the axis of which preferably corresponds in curvature to the curv ature of the section so that when the core is assembled a continuous annular chamber within the inner annulus is provided] The inner sections 14, adjacent each end, are formed with radially extending bores 20 counterbored' at their inner ends to 51101- vide cylindrical sockets 21 and each of the outer sections 11 is formed with a pair of internally threaded sockets 22 opening through its inner face. Bolts 23 are pro- .vided, the shanks of which are adapted to pass through the bores 20 and have threaded engagement in the sockets 22 and the heads of which are adapted to seat in the sockets 21 to lie flush with the inner face of the core, these heads being provided with slots 24 for application of a screw driver or similar tool. Preferably, the threaded sockets 22 are so formed in the sections 11 that when the bolts are applied, the sections 14 will be disposed substantially midway of the length of the sections 11.

When my improved core is to be used, the parts are assembled in the manner shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, this being conveniently accomplished by connecting one of the sections 11 with one of the sections 14, then applying the sections 13 to the sections 11 and 14 so connected and the sections 12 after the sections 13, the remaining section 11 and remaining section 14 being then applied and fastened. After the tire has been finishe'cLthe screw bolts connecting one of the sections 14 with the abutting section 11 are removed and the loosened section 14 is withdrawn. The other section 14 is then unfastened and withdrawn, after which the g sections 13 may be withdrawn, followed by the sections12 and the sections 11.

It will be obvious that when the core is assembled, all independent movement of any of the sections is prevented as the sections 12 and 13 cannot move outwardly as long as the sections 11 are held against outward movement from each other and the sections 11 cannot move away from each other because of the locking engagement between the sections 14 and sections 13, due to the positioning of the ends of the sections 13 between the end portions of the sections 11 and 14 which are secured together by the bolts. i

Although I have illustrated and described my collapsible mold in all its details of construction, it will of course be understood that I reserve the right to make any changes or modifications insuch details as, for instance, in the means for locking the inner and outer annuli against independent lat eral movement or the construction of the interlocking means between the various sections of the annuli, without in theslightest degree departing from the spirit of my invention. i

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: v

1. A collapsible core including inner and outer sectional members, the abutting ends of the sections of each member being scarfed and said members, when assembled, forming inner and outer rings, one engagingwithin the other, and means for locking the rings thus formed against independent lateral movement, said means including shoulders formed longitudinally along the entire length of the inner faces of the sections making up the outer ring to provide an annular shoulder adapted to seat in an annular channel provided by forming channels longitudinally in the outer faces of the sections of the inner ring.

2. A collapsible core including inner and outer rings, one engaging closely within the other, each ring being formed of a plurality of sections the abutting ends of which are scarfed whereby their inclined end faces lie in non-parallel, non-radial planes so that when the core is assembled securing of a pair of opposed sections of the inner ring to certain of the sections of the outer ring will secure all of the sections against movement, and means for so securing such sections.

3. A collapsible core including inner and outer ring portions, each formed in a plurality of sections, certain sections of the outer ring being of greater length than the remaining sections of the outer ring and certain sections of the inner ring being of greater length than the remaining sections of the inner ring and the rings having the abutting ends of their sections scarfed and so assembled that the sections of one break joint with the sections of the other.

4. A collapsible core including inner and outer ring portions, each formed in a plurality of sections, certain sections of the outer ring being of greater length than the remaining sections of the outer ring and certain sections of the inner ring being of greater length than the remaining sections of the inner ring and the rings having the abutting ends of their sections scarfed and so assembled that the sections of one break joint with the sections of the other whereby securing of the shorter sections of the inner ring to the longer sections of the outer ring will secure all of the sections together.

5. A collapsible core including inner and outer ring portions, each formed in a plurality of sections, certain of the sections of the outer ring being of greater length than the remaining sections of the outer ring and certain of the sections of the inner ring being of greater length. than the remaining sections of the inner ring and the rings having their sections so assembled that the sections of one break joint with the sections of the other, and means whereby securing of the shorter sections of the inner ring to the longer sections of the outer ring will secure all of the sections together, said means including the forming of the abutting ends of the sections with scarf joints so that the shorter sections of the outer ring are held against movement from each other by the longer sections when the longer sections of the outer ring are held against movement away from each other and in such a manner that the longer sections of the inner ring are held against movement toward each other as long as the shorter sections of the inner ring are held against movement toward each other.

6. A collapsible core including inner and outer ring portions fitting one within the other and each formed in a plurality of sections, the sections being arranged to break joint when the core is assembled, and means for securing certain of the sections of the inner ring to adjacent sections of the outer ring, the abutting ends of each section of both rings being formed with scarfed faces,

whereby such locking of sections will result in locking of all the sections.

7 A collapsible core including inner and outer ring portions, each formed in a plurality of sections the abutting ends of which are scarfed, there being shoulder and channel interlocking engagement between the ring portions when the sections are assembled to hold the ring portions against independent lateral movement and the sections of the inner ring portion being formed with bores to provide an annular chamber when the core is assembled.

8. A collapsible core formed in inner and outer annular portions, the outer portion including a pair of relatively short and a pair of relatively long sections adapted to be assembled with the short sections disposed between the long sections and the inner portion being formed of a pair of relatively short and a pair of relatively long sections with the short sections disposed between the long sections, the portions being so arranged that the short sections of the inner portion engage against the long sections of the outer portion, connecting means between such portions, and interlocking engagement between the other sections of the various portions, whereby all of the sections are held together by the securing of the shorter inner sections to the longer outer sections.

9. A collapsible core including inner and outer annular portions, one engaging closely within the other, the inner portion including relatively short sections, the ends of which converge outwardly toward each other. and longer sections, the ends of which abut the ends of the shorter sections and the outer portion including relatively short sections, the ends of which converge toward each other outwardly, and longer sections, the ends of which abut against the ends of the shorter sections, and fastening means cooperating between the shorter inner sections and the longer outer sections, whereby all of the sections are held against radial movement.

10. A collapsible core including inner and shorter sections, fastening means cooperating between the shorter inner sections and the longer outer sections, whereby all of the sections are held against radial movement, and tongue and groove connections between the abutting ends of the sections, whereby the sections of each portion are'held against independent lateral movement.

11. A collapsible core including inner and outer annular portions, one engaging closely within the other, the inner portion including relatively short sections, the ends of which converge outwardly toward each other, and. longer sections, the ends of which smoothly abut the ends of the shorter sections and the outer portion including relatively short sections, the ends of which converge toward each other outwardly and longer sections, the ends of which abut against the ends of the shorter sections, fastening means cooperatingbetween the shorter inner sections and the'longeroutersections, whereby all of the sections are held against radial movement, tongueand groove connections between the abutting ends of the sections, whereby the sections of each portion are held against independent lateral movement, and tongue "and groove connections between the inner and outer portions, whereby such porti'ons are held againstindependent lateral movement. a

12. A collapsible core including inner and Eunice or this patent may be obtained forfive cents each, by addressing the l Washington, D. 0.

outer annular portions, one engaging closely within the other, the inner portion including relatively short sections, the ends of which converge outwardly toward each other and longer sections, the ends of which smoothly abut the ends of the shorter sections and the outer portion including relatively short sections, the ends of which converge toward each other outwardly and longer sections, the ends of which abut against the ends of the shorter sections, fastening means 00- operating between the shorter inner sections and the longer outer sections, whereby all of the sections are held against radial movement, tongue and groove connections between the abutting ends of the sections, whereby the sections of each portion are held against independent lateral movement, and tongue and groove connections between the inner and outer portions, whereby such portions are held against independent lateral movement and between the abutting ends of the sections, whereby the sections of each portion are held against independent lateral movement.

13. A collapsible core including detachable inner and outer portions formed in sections, the abutting ends of the several sections being scarred and provided with tongue and grooveconnections, and detachable seeuring means between the inner and outer portions.

14. A collapsible core including detachable inner and outer portions formed in sections, the abutting ends of which have tongue and groove connection, and detachable securing means between the inner and outer portions, the inner and outer portions also having tongue and groove connection with each other.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. ROBERT M. MERRIMAN. '[L. s.]

Commissioner of Patents, 

